32.2 Establishment Types in Major Activity Centers

Indicator description:

This indicator measures the number and percentage of business and government establishments in the eleven largest major activity centers in Albuquerque in 2011. The Sandia/ Kirtland center was excluded because of extremely small numbers in all sectors. Categories are based on the Standard Industrial Classification codes. Some sectors have been combined for convenience. In an urban setting, the agriculture sector is mostly animal- services such as veterinarians and pet stores. The construction/mining sector is essentially construction, although it does include sand and gravel processing in the City. Wholesale and retail are combined in the trade sector.

Why is this indicator relevant?

Centers concentrate moderate and high density mixed land uses into relatively compact areas. Residents and visitors to centers have a variety of establishments in which to work, shop, recreate, and be entertained. Having most, if not all, of what’s needed for daily living nearby promotes pedestrian and mass transit access to jobs and commerce. Centers maximize the efficiency of infrastructure, lowering costs, and minimize vehicle traffic which has positive effects on air quality.

Data Source: infoUSA Business Files, as reported by the City of Albuquerque Planning Department.

What can we tell from the data?

Two centers, Downtown and Uptown, predominate. The other 10 centers are measurably smaller.

The Downtown center has the second highest concentration of all establishments and the largest number of government concerns.

Services is the largest sector overall, and the largest in all but two centers, Cottonwood and Renaissance, where the trade sector predominates.

The smallest sectors are agriculture and manufacturing. Services, trade, and financial sectors comprise over three-fourths of all businesses in the major activity centers.